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Sunday, February 17, 2013

one chance...

If you look back, what prompted me (among other things) on my Christian path was the mention of Satan. As there is a God in Heaven - certainly there is a Satan and Hell. As evil makes it's way through this world, blame tends to fall on people, things and situations for all the bad that happens. Non-believers ask the question "But how could a Loving God permit such suffering and ultimately an eternity in Hell"? How many times must you be warned about the consequences of your actions? How many people ignore those warnings because they feel they have the right to simply do as they please? In this earthly life we are programmed to believe we will always get another chance. In reality, you have but one chance to accept Jesus Christ as your savior...and that chance is right now because your time on earth can end at any moment for whatever reason - then it's too late! Our time "alive" on earth is but an illusion that cannot compare in any way to an unfathomable eternity in the abundance of everlasting life in Heaven...or enduring forever with pain and suffering and regret in Hell. In this world and the next....regret only compiles the pain but doesn't buy your way out of a very,very bad situation that will last far beyond your comprehension. Have some faith and heed the warnings... 53,72,24,0,B,0

I half disagree with Dizzy. (and half agree)Or perhaps we agree, but Dizzy didn't give as much detail as I'm about to offer?

Yes, it is important to put the word out there, but it is far more important to have one's actions reflect the teachings of Jesus Christ as related to us in the bible.

When people see our actions... loving our neighbors, loving our enemies, helping the poor and misfortunate, and giving credit to God, those deeds will spread God's word faster than us simply talking about it.

It's important to tell people about God... but not at the expense of doing the right things and spreading God's love by loving others, even those who are not our friends, just as we love ourselves.

1st John Chapter 3 has a great deal to teach us on this topic.

18Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.19We will know by this that we are of the truth, and will assure our heart before Him20in whatever our heart condemns us; for God is greater than our heart and knows all things.

Clearly Jesus teaches us that words alone are insufficient.

By contrast, Jesus taught us that no matter what someone's words might be, if their actions are sinful, they followers of Satan himself.

Earier in Chapter 8 of 1st John4Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness.5You know that He appeared in order to take away sins; and in Him there is no sin.6No one who abides in Him sins; no one who sins has seen Him or knows Him.7Little children, make sure no one deceives you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous;8the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil.

It is up to each of us to be absolutely certain that we are not being deceived by those who claim to speak God's word. Just because someone talks as if they revere the bible does not mean that their actions are holy.

Ask yourself, are they sharing their words to help Jesus save me? Or, are they sharing their words to promote their own selfish personal gain, or to promote an earthly political agenda?

Jesus warned us to not be misled, but to make certain our actions are holy. To do otherwise, is destroy ourselves.

Even hate of another is to become a murderer.

13Do not be surprised, brethren, if the world hates you.14We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love abides in death.15Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer; and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.

It's very, very interesting to find that the concepts of Satan and evil are what drove you to Christianity. I'd venture to guess that most folks who come to Christianity later in life are attracted to its principles of mercy, love, forgiveness, etc.